Awaken, come to me, child

Awaken, come to me, child

AWAKEN

I slowly open my eyes and what meets my gaze is a red sun in the sky followed by a sky stained crimson red. A splitting headache and an aching side I look down to see blood but no wounds and yet my side hurts as if a phantom pain was there. I remembered that I got into a car crash and fell into the river when I was cornered by the authorities.

Come to me, child! A voice in my head beacons me forward but to where? I don’t know. I don’t know where I am but in the distance I find a town that looks gothic, unlike anything I have ever seen in my whole life and beyond that is a castle. No sky scraping buildings, no flying cars, no city caked in neon lights and billboard projections…brimstone covered the ground and everywhere I looked was tinted in red.

Then I felt it, the scorching heat and it almost burned to breathe, there was no doubt about it. I’m in Hell, shit! I grab my mask off the floor and put it on as I stand up and make my way to the town.

Panting, I finally made it to the town and stopped at the entrance and met with an unsettling sight. Monsters, they were all over the place and yet they all seemed to be civilized. I gulped and took a step forward then another and another. As I made my way I was getting side eye’d and glances all over. The monsters looked at me with curiosity but none approached me just stared into me from a distance.

Sheesh, what’s up with them?

“Well well well, a human has fallen come to the underworld and you still look definitely human, you must be new to Hell”

I quickly turned around, knife at the ready but nobody was there…I backed away slowly till I bumped into something and spun around.

GAAAH!

I was startled and fell to the ground. What met my eyes was a monster, a beautiful monster woman with long dark hair, black sclera and red eyes. Ears pointed and with a seductive grin on her face. Fair blue skin and she was wearing what looked like skimpy armor with high boots. What caught my attention the most was her huge bat-like wings and pointed tail and her huge freaking breasts!

I got up and raised my knife at her ready to strike.

Who are you, what do you want- before I could finish she wrapped her tail around my arm, twisted it to the point of almost breaking and spinned around me but before she could do anything else I bent over and threw her off me. Knife ready for the next attack.

WOW WOW! I didn’t expect that from you human, I thought I had you there. Her eyes widened, at me, looking through me as though she was reading into me.

Oh I didn’t expect you to be that strong at all. Looks like you’re not as pathetic as I thought you to be.

Why’d you attack me just now? Are all monsters going to do that?!

To be fair it was in self defense you had me at knife point and I didn’t even do anything wrong yet. How mean of you to greet a stranger. She smiles a devilish grin, but yes I did plan to kill you then and there just now.

Yeah I could tell your killing intent was pretty much showing. I don’t give my trust so easily, especially if I’m facing a monster!

I’m a demon and my name is Belros

And I should care who you are because?

She eases up and puts her hands by her waist. Hehe, I like you human, you’re a funny one and I’m curious about you. What brings a human down here, haven’t seen one here in…ages really, not at this town at least.

Well I’m in Hell so I’m obviously not here for good reasons and I don’t know why but…you see that castle over there?

She looks at the castle in the distance.

I’m making my way there, something…something is just calling me to it. So that’s where I’m headed

That’s the Demon God Lucifer’s domain, you must be a crazy one if you’re making your way there you’ll be dead before you even set foot out of town. She scoffs

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Thanks for the warning, I say as I walk past her. A few blocks down I noticed that I was being followed so I turned around.

Why are you following me Belros?

I’m bored and you amuse me. Besides I don’t think you understand the peril you’re about to subject yourself to darling. This is Hell, not Earth. Outside these walls are monsters who lost their way, their memories, their sanity, and they’re waaaay stronger than you are. And that puny knife of yours isn’t enough to take out the big monsters out there…

I look at my weapon then at her and resign myself.

Sigh…you’re going to keep following me aren’t you?

Oh without a doubt darling. She flew closer to be at my side and we started walking together, reaching the town square. It was bustling with monsters and some took curious glances at me but when they saw a demon next to me they paid less mind.

I keep staring at my weapon. I had it for as long as I can remember but if Belros says it’s not enough it kind of worries me as to what I’ll truly be facing outside this hellish gothic town.

Yo Belros…

Hmm?

Is my combat knife really not enough to kill monsters here?

Maybe if you were fighting lesser monsters like goblins but against minotaurs, giants, and the like, you’ll need something more meaningful. If you want I can take you to a blacksmith shop?

I really am in Hell…to think these creatures exist then she may have a point, my trusty knife that’s been with me through thick and thin to take out scum won’t do anymore, I’m up against real life monsters

Well? She looked at me in anticipation.

Yeah, yeah alright I’ll bite

We headed to a place that looked like the blacksmith shop and I was greeted with weapons sprung and hung all over the place. A muscular goblin man welcomed us in and took one look at me with a curious expression then looked at the demon. Nonchalantly he said

What can I get for you two?

Just me, Soda, why don’t you look around while I talk to this gentleman.

I looked at her in a daze, how did she know my name? I never mentioned it to her. With suspicion I did as she asked. Before me were all kinds of weapons I’d expect to be in a fantasy. Swords, shields, daggers, swords. The whole woodworks. I am genuinely astonished that there were no guns…oh but then again this place is a blacksmith shop, guns must be sold somewhere else like an arms dealer shop. Belros approached me with my new weapon in hand.

Are you kidding me, You must be fucking joking!

She looked puzzled.

It’s a Scythe Belros! I never used a scythe before.

That’s rather strange, if not hilarious considering you seem to have a proficiency for this weapon, that’s why I got it for you. You should be grateful, I spent a good amount of money to get this beauty for you

Why would you do that for me?

Consider it to be an investment on my part.

An investment?

On your future endeavors, I look forward to working with you partner, but if it truly concerns you, we can head to the training grounds so you can get some practice in.

This town have training grounds?

Why yes of course darling, it’s where all the monsters go to practice their weapons skills before they venture out to the world outside this town like we will be doing soon. It’s important to know how to use your weapons before fighting, don't you think?

You got a point there, I never used a scythe before. Looking at the blade I have to admit, it looked pretty cool and made me look like a badass reaper.

It suits you, she said. You seem to be a reaper in the making that’s why I got it for you..

Great now it’s like she’s reading my mind or something, I thought to myself.

We made our way to the training grounds and she gave me the basic rundown of how to properly hold the scythe and how to swing it consecutively. At first I didn’t really get the hang of this shit. I tossed and tumbled, damn near impaled myself from the side and back a couple times. And each time Belros would laugh at me for nearly every mistake I made. But after a couple hours of swinging

Hey I think I’m getting the hang of this Belros, HAHAHA! What do you think, do I make a good reaper?

She looked at me inquisitively, there’s only one way to find out darling, care to have a sparring session.

I looked at her, my mask representing the toothy grin I had on the inside, you know it girl!

Let’s see if that bravado of yours lasts when I put you on the ground. She took center and I positioned myself. Each of us is not making any sudden moves until…

I try to close the gap and go in for a swing but she back flipped and casted purple flames at my direction

No fucking fair, using magic! I deflected each blast with my scythe.

There’s no fairness in a fight darling, she snickered

Then how about this?! My scythe’s razor edge glowed a cerulean blue as a slashed upwards causing an air slash to come at her. It was a direct hit I thought, YAHOO YEAH BABY! I yelled but I later realized she raised her shield to negate my attack.

Not bad, not bad at all. You managed to use a weapon skill despite not knowing anything about skills whatsoever, color me impressed. She licked her lips as I stood there frustrated.

She flew down and came in with a strong roundhouse kick which I managed to parry but the force was so strong that it sent me flying a bit

The pain sent me reeling but I got back up on my own two feet, my scythe supporting me as I stood.

Ready to admit defeat? Ohohohoho~, she laughed.

I slowly pointed at her, ooh I’m not done with you yet! I got back into my stance, at the ready while she prepared more purple flames. We spared for what seemed like hours.

You just don’t know when to give up, do you, kid? Belros wipes a bit of sweat from her forehead.

I’m battered, bleeding, and covered in bruises but I say to her, no not really. Giving up isn’t my thing.

Your tenacity is baffling if not completely reckless. I give up, at this point you’d die again if I didn’t yield.

Bullshit pant pant

No seriously, you would have, I kicked your butt all the way to red

Red what, what are you talking about- before I knew it my vision was a blur and I knelt to the floor and I collapsed then and there

Fatigue and the pain finally kicked in huh?

Before I shut my eyes I could only utter two words.

I’m hungry

My vision went black